Here is a closer look at the history of matchups between the two, including potential games that either Embiid or Jokic were not available to play in.

For the fifth straight year, Joel Embiid is depriving NBA fans of a chance to see him play Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets in Denver.

The last time Embiid played in Denver, Tom Brady was still the Patriots’ quarterback and the United Kingdom was still part of the European Union. Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who played part of his high school career at Seton Hall Prep, underscored how Jokic’s availability compared to Embiid’s.